Setting up your own system at home for access to the internet or the WWW or even for sending email, need not necessarily be an expensive exercise.
For example here I have an old LC 575 Macintosh, which you can pick up quite cheaply second hand for about one thousand dollars.
This computer also has a CD Rom which is not absolutely necessary for cheaper access to the internet, and I have here a 14,400 modem which people are basically throwing away now.
And with this simple setup and shareware programs which you can get for free, from magazines or download, I can set myself up for access and email relatively cheaply.